Dyspareunia After Birth

For hundred of years, women have wrestled with their womanhood, bodies, and what it means to be a woman in our society. Being a woman comes with a wonderful and empowering responsibility--giving birth. What sets us aside from other countries is that the process and expectations of giving birth has changed in our society; coming from midwifery, as it has always been since the early times, to hospitals where it is now expected to give birth at. Midwifery was a common practice in delivering babies in

"Why do so many women continue to suffer?" Asked Psychotherapist Karen Kleimen in her recent article on postpartum depression in a well-known medical magazine, Psychology Today. "Why is it that postpartum depression and its related conditions continue to be misunderstood by so many healthcare professionals?" Followed Karen. After being constantly bombarded with terrifying effects and the rising number of cases of postpartum depression, many women are raising similar questions as those of Karen and are demanding satisfactory answers from healthcare providers. As a result, healthcare providers have conducted several research and concluded a number of potential causes for postpartum depression.

Women who have previously suffered with depression prior to childbirth have a higher chance of experiencing the debilitating depression. Teenage mothers have an increased risk of postpartum depression “with prevalence estimates ranging from 26% to over 50%” (Springer). Adolescent mothers can experience the consequences of postpartum more so than non-adolescent mothers because of “their increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, low self-esteem, little social support and parenting difficulties” (Springer) at such a young age.

Postpartum depression is a mood disorder in females that is known to be present within the 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth (Battle et al). This condition is the most common complication after childbirth (Mosses-Kolko et al.,2009).Studies have shown predictors which lead to postpartum depression such as maternal childhood maltreatment and lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)in pregnancy (Seng 2013).A variety of factors exist among certain subgroups of women that may lead to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression affects approximately “one out of eight of the more than four million women who give birth in the United States every year”(Kruse et al. 2013a). The estimation of PPD in the US, UK, and Australia is from 7% to 20 % (Fitelson

Postpartum Depression is depression that occurs after performing childbirth. This condition is often mistaken for the “baby blues” which has similar symptoms such as tearfulness, extreme sadness, anxiety, self-doubt, and fatigue. However, the “baby blues” goes away within a few weeks after and unlike the “baby blues”, postpartum depression can cause suicidal thoughts, difficulty making decisions, and feeling too exhausted to get out of bed for hours. If postpartum depression is not treated properly or soon enough it can drastically effect the lives of those who have developed it as well as their families. This is because a mother is a very important figure in one’s life because she is the first person that an individual ever makes an emotional connection with; she’s also the first one to play the role of supplying nourishment to her child. Consequently, “PPD can affect familial relationships and a woman’s capacity to care for and bond with her newborn. Some research indicates that young children of depressed mothers are at increased risk of delay in cognitive and language development” (McGarry, Kim, Sheng, Egger, & Baksh, 2009). Postpartum depression can take hold of a woman and her family’s life and is one of the most common complications of childbirth. However, “postpartum depression (PPD) is less frequently detected, treated, or the focus of obstetric research” (McGarry et al., 2009). This is because mothers suffering with postpartum depression are unable to seek proper

After delivering a baby, some women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. There are three levels of postpartum depression: baby blues, postpartum depression, and psychosis. Symptoms include feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, fatigue, and a lack of motivation to do pleasurable things. For women with the second level, the disorder interferes with their ability to function. On the extreme end, psychosis, women experience confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, and thoughts of hurting themselves or their baby. Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 women. It’s medical risk factors include underperforming thyroid, hormone imbalance, and low levels of serotonin. It 's psychological risk factors include a history of depression, stress, fatigue, and a lack of support. Generally, women with the disorder are treated with antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. However, one case study found that mommy-and-me classes and a strong support system helped treat the disorder. Moreover, a recent study found that exercise can be used to treat postpartum depression and fatigue.

Social relationships, partnership dynamics, finances and responsibilities are changing. The uncertainties surrounding this unique role change can result in increased stress and anxiety (Hanley, 2015). Brunton et al. (2011) found that most women expressed worry in relation to labour and birth, coping in the postnatal period and fear about body changes. Clark et al. (2009) found that women were most dissatisfied with their body image in the early postnatal period. Body changes can be partially responsible for decreased intimacy between couples following child birth, further adding to women’s dissatisfaction and depressive feelings (Hanley, 2015). Additional challenges are faced by breastfeeding mothers in accepting the role of being mothers as well as sexual partners (Marques and Lemos, 2010).

In today’s society some women are reluctant about starting a family. These women aren’t just looking at the financial obligations that accompany parenting but many are looking at the physical and emotional changes that some women endure during the postpartum period. There is reluctance among some women because one cannot predict if such changes will affect their life. Women of all ages, economic statuses, and ethnic backgrounds are at risk. This is due to the hormonal shift that women face during and after childbirth. Such

Not too long ago, the term Cesarean Section would strike fear into the heart's of expecting mothers because of the number of risks involved with the surgery and not to mention the ghastly scar it leaves behind. Today, however, physicians give their patients the option to go through with natural delivery or chose a natural delivery. This may be due to the increase in celebrity trends or because women are having babies later in life and advanced maternal age comes into play when making the decision. Regardless of the increase of this type of delivery, one thing remains true, it is surgery and the

The hypothesis whether effective coping strategies can reduce post-partum stress in mothers with newborn babies will be supported from results derived from a cross tabulation analysis, posttest non-experimental survey and it is expected to show that post-partum stress levels will be reduced in mothers with a newborn baby if they properly utilize stress relieving methods that include support systems, planning tactics and making time for themselves. Prior research has proven that post-partum stress when left untreated will increase a mother’s exposure to other psychological disorders such as post-partum depression, as well as negative effects on maternal-infant attachment and child development and it has been identified as a major health problem

Postpartum complications are typically health complications in women that we associate with a full term delivery. For women who experience a miscarriage, there is a marked risk for post-partum complications as well. If you have recently terminated a pregnancy, or experienced spontaneous miscarriage, it is important to know what health complications may arise especially those complications associated with hormonal imbalances. Postpartum thyroiditis is one of the most under diagnosed health complications in women who have had a sudden end to a pregnancy. As a condition that can lead to the secondary development of depression, complications with weight gain, and a complication with body temperature regulation, many doctors simply dismiss the

In modern day society, birth control is remotely routine. Four out of five women rely on hormonal contraceptives to inhibit their ability to conceive. With consequences blatantly delineated, women continuously risk the odds. The amount of women at risk makes it notably essential that we understand the effects of such birth prevention thus forcing the question what is affected. Sex has often been spoken for in relation to possibly affected variables from birth control. "With the increase in research aimed at developing new treatment methods for women's sexual dysfunctions over the past several years, a better understanding of the link between women's sexual functioning and satisfaction is called for" (Meston and Trapnell p2). Being hormonal beings prior, one could only assume the disjustice additional hormones are doing to a body. "Yet, to our knowledge, no studies have examined the relation between what constitutes satisfaction and what constitutes distress within sexual realm" (pg 2). With the sexual satisfaction scale to measure the intimacy, low scores would

Post-partum depression or PPD can be experienced by not only the new mother but the partner and new born as well. However given the high rate in which it affects the partner, the availability of resources that can be used to resolve PPD is very low. There is also a substantial lack of knowledge about PPD and its effects of the new father; this lack of information often leads to negative stigmas and judgment. Although the notion that Fathers can experience PPD is new and often accepted by medical professionals, the complexities of PPD that are presented in our society are the lack of information and resources given to the new fathers who suffer from PPD.

Although the process of giving birth and recovery is different for every woman, the human body must withstand many physical and psychological changes after having a baby. The federal

Today, most hospitals do not give enough time to provide adequate transition between the birth and discharge; mothers delivering in a hospital may leave the hospital as soon as they are medically stable, which can be as early as a few hours postpartum. The average for spontaneous vaginal delivery is one to two days, and the average caesarean section postnatal stay is three to four days (Bryanton, & Beck, 2010). During hospital stays, mothers are monitored for physiological functions such as bleeding, bowel, bladder, uterus, and psychological functions such as emotional status, bonding, and newborn care. Unfortunately, after discharge, mothers are left